A NEW charity is to take over The Millgate Centre in Delph, helping secure the future of the village library for the next three decades.

The centre, which houses the library and the popular Players' Theatre run by the Saddleworth Players, will now be rented out for a nominal sum to the newly-formed Millgate Arts Centre (MAC) charity.

Oldham councillors agreed to sign a 30-year lease, with a £1-a-year rent, at a cabinet meeting on Monday morning.

Before the building is handed over, the council has also agreed to fund £55,000 of essential structural repairs to the roof and front wall - which were problems identified in a recent structural survey.

After that, MAC will be responsible for all future maintenance, both internal and external.

"The fact that Oldham Council has funded the repairs shows that they see it will be in public use for the foreseeable future.

"The theatre and library will now be able to apply for grants to improve the facilities and increase use by the community.

"It will be good for Delph and for Saddleworth as a whole."

The decision to charge a nominal rent is a break from protocol, as the borough council has an agreement to only lease properties which it owns at market value; in this case it would be estimated at being between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum.

But it has confirmed the 'peppercorn' rent for the Millgate Centre as the premises will be used for the benefit of residents and will contribute to the maintenance of Delph conservation area.

The library will still not receive any money to finance its book stock or daily operations and will continue to rely on volunteers and donations, just as it has since March when Oldham Council decided to withdraw funding.

The Saddleworth Players currently lease the theatre for £1,800 annually, but the new agreement replaces that contract.

The Players have already raised £73,000 towards alterations to make the building more accessible for disabled people, and further changes in the pipeline, including a new lift, will now take place.